• Hasi Samaratunga has joined as business systems consultant and will be leading the newly established IT, digital and data analytics advisory services team.

Finally, the below mergers were recently completed:

• McLean Delmo Bentleys has completed two mergers, including with UHY Norton Melbourne and Complete Financial Services. Ian Kinder has joined as director, growth and strategic planning, after running his firm, Complete Financial Services, for 25 years.

• Bentleys SA has completed its merger with business advisory firm Moore Stephens Adelaide, bringing in five partners and 16 staff including:

• Peppe Fusco, partner, business advisory

• Cristina Clemente, partner, business advisory

• Rick Basheer, partner, business advisory

• Sam Woods, partner, business advisory

• Tim Siebert, partner, business advisory

• Bentleys Tasmania has completed its merger with Hobart-based Tenuto Financial, positioning the company as the largest Tasmanian-owned state-wide accounting and advisory firm, with offices in Hobart, Launceston, Ulverstone and Sheffield.

“Our national network has experienced significant growth, particularly in the last 12 months in a very competitive and fast-changing market. This has allowed us to better serve our clients as it ensures we can offer them the services and expertise they need, regardless of where they are located,” said Mark Chapman, chief executive of Bentleys Australia.

“With a national footprint in Australia and New Zealand, we are well placed to service clients across our specialist areas of agribusiness, health and ageing, and research and development. Through the quality and valuable service and expertise we provide, we see this trend continuing in the years ahead.

“Just as last financial year was marked by an increase in Bentleys offices across Australia, we expect the year ahead to follow in the same vein. Expansion and growth remains the main focus for the business, with the network able to offer greater efficiencies and services for clients through the benefit of scale. This also extends to New Zealand, where plans for further are expansion already underway.”

In the last financial year, mergers included those led by McLean Delmo Bentleys in Melbourne, Bentleys SA, Bentleys Newcastle and Bentleys Tasmania. At the same time, new offices joined the network in the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads and Launceston.